Zasyadko coal mine


Zasyadko Mine is a coal mining company in Ukraine's eastern city of Donetsk. Following the start of the War in Donbass in 2014 the mine became situated in rebel controlled territory.
The manager and alleged owner of the company is Yukhym Zvyahilsky, influential businessman and politician within the Party of Regions. Along with its economic, technological and political importance, the company, namely its coal mine, is infamous for being the site of repeated mining accidents with numerous fatalities. The deadliest disaster, the worst in Ukraine’s history, happened on November 18, 2007, killing 101 miners.

History

Production at the mine began in 1958, Since foundation, the mine is named after Alexander Zasyadko, one of the Soviet Ministers of Coal Industry.
In 1992, Zasyadko Mine was turned into a "rented enterprise" together with several auxiliary industries. Yukhym Zvyahilsky, the then-manager of the mine and influential local businessman, retained his post and gained informal control of the new company's assets. Mr. Zvyahilsky has been the acting Prime Minister of Ukraine for a short time in early 1990s and a member of the Verkhovna Rada of all convocations. He is known as an influential member of the Party of Regions.

Mining dangers

The Zasyadko Mine is one of the most dangerous coal mines in the world due to naturally high levels of gas and coal dust explosion hazards. Additionally, gradual exhaustion made the mine as large as having 6 shafts and, most importantly, very deep. As of 2004, depths of excavation varied from 529m to 1270m.
However, an independent mining expert recently claimed that the company is interfering with its hazard-measuring equipment on a regular basis, in order to present underground situation as being within the safety standards, and so to prevent closure by the government inspectors.
President Yushchenko blamed the cabinet for failing to “implement safe-mining practices” in the coal industry.

Accidents

The Zasyadko Mine has had seven serious mining accidents: